An advent calendar is a great way to spend the lead up to Christmas. Each day being rewarded with a chocolaty treat for no reason other than it being December? Yes please.
However, long gone are the days where the only choice of advent calendar you could buy was a chocolate one. Nowadays you can pick up anything from a gin advent calendar to a cheese one!
With so many choices now on offer it can be difficult to choose what type of gift you want to get each morning.
We’ve done some research and put together some of the best alternative advent calendars for you to buy.
Whether you fancy a boozy calendar, a beauty one or if the foodie in you wants a savoury treat each day, we’ve got you sorted.
Alcoholic Advent Calendars
For the 18+ among us, there is a huge variety of alcoholic advent calendars available this year. Everything from prosecco to beer is on offer.
Aldi – Haysmith Gin Advent Calendar
This advent calendar comes in the shape of a Christmas cracker and has 24 miniatures of Haysmith Gin. The gins come in 6 flavours: London Dry Gin, Rhubarb & Ginger Gin, Sloe Gin, Seville Orange & Persian Lime Gin, Raspberry & Redcurrant Pink Gin and Spiced Plum & Clementine Gin.
The Haysmith Gin Advent Calendar costs £69.99
Buy it here.
BrewDog – Craft Beer Advent Calendar
The BrewDog advent calendar is filled with 24 beers to entertain your lead up to Christmas. The box contains 14 new beers for 2021, 6 new this Christmas and 4 online exclusives.
The advent calendar costs £49.95, and you can buy it here.
Aldi – Prosecco Advent Calendar
Prosecco fans look no further, Aldi is selling a prosecco and sparkling wine advent calendar. The box contains 24 200ml bottles of Costellore bubbles.
The calendar is £59.99 and can be bought here.
Virgin – Wine Advent Calendar
Virgin Wines are stocking not one, not two, but three wine advent calendars. For fans of all wines, treat yourself to the mixed wine box. If you’re just a fan of red or white, you can buy each as a separate advent calendar.
And better yet, each one has 24 miniatures with a full-sized bottle of fizz to enjoy on Christmas Day.
Browse Virgin Wines advent calendars here.
Food Advent Calendars
If you fancy a foodie treat in your advent calendar, don’t worry, there’s plenty of options for you to choose from.
Lidl – Cheese Advent Calendar
Cheese lovers, you're in luck! From November 18 Lidl will be stocking the So Wrong It's Nom Ilchester British Cheese Advent Calendar. With 24 cheeses in 9 different varieties, this advent calendar costs only £7.99.
B&M – Pringles Advent Calendar
B&M have one to satisfy the crisps fans. A 12 days of Christmas Pringles advent calendar, for only £8. According to an Instagram post, they sold out very quickly last year, so head to your local B&M now to be in with a chance of getting one.
The Naked Marshmallow Co – Marshmallow Advent Calendar
Claiming to be the world’s first marshmallow advent calendar, this one is filled with 25 gooey treats for you to indulge in.
The advent calendar costs £15, but if you want to add on a marshmallow toaster it is £18.
You can buy the marshmallow advent calendar here.
Beauty Advent Calendars
If you fancy some new beauty products, then there’s an advent calendar for that!
Boohoo – Beauty Advent Calendar
Introducing: your beauty advent calendar😍🎄🎁 Count down to Christmas with the ultimate beauty calendar, tap to shop here: https://t.co/QigNAeqUMQ pic.twitter.com/YDiDp9XIFA
— boohoo (@boohoo) November 1, 2021
Boohoo is stocking an advent calendar with £140 worth of products for just £60. It includes a variety of brands including Garnier, Bondi Sands and Beauty Works.
You can buy the advent calendar here.
Boots – Macmillan 24 Beauty Treasures Advent Calendar
This calendar doesn’t just help you look good, it’ll do good too; £2 from every one of these beauty calendars goes to Macmillan Cancer Support.
With brands such as Liz Earle, No7, Soap and Glory and Ted Baker, this beauty advent calendar is a steal. And if you buy now it is reduced from £85, to £42.50.
Other alternative advent calendars
Coffee fans should head to Nespresso for the Nespresso X Johanna Ortiz advent calendar. For just £35 you can get your hands on 23 coffee Original capsules and a gift for the 24th.
Marks and Spencer – Harry Potter Advent Calendar
Sometimes original is best, and that’s why we’ve included this Harry Potter milk chocolate advent calendar. The box is shaped like the Hogwarts Express filled with 12 milk chocolate pieces with a gooey caramel centre, 12 milk chocolate balls and one special chocolate to enjoy on Christmas Day.
The calendar costs £12 and you can buy it here.
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